Sensory testing device

Abstract

An economical, diagnostic, sensory testing instrument having a semi-rigid filament rigidly secured within a hand-gripped support for use in the care and treatment of sensory-affecting conditions. The filament is adapted for perpendicular contact with a testing surface, and maintains an outwardly projecting orientation with respect to the support until such contact reaches a predetermined force that causes the filament to buckle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sensory tester, comprising: a flat planar handle; and   a semi-rigid filament connected to said handle, and extending outwardly from and substantially coplanar with said handle, said filament having a first end rigidly held within said handle and a second free end adapted for contact with a testing surface, said filament maintaining a coplanar alignment with the handle until the second end of said filament is exposed to a predetermined force that causes said filament to buckle.   
     
     
       2. The tester of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a pair of laminated sheets and wherein said filament is held between said sheets. 
     
     
       3. The tester of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a pair of laminated sheets formed from a single folded sheet. 
     
     
       4. The tester of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive applied to said handle and wherein said filament is at least partially embedded within said adhesive. 
     
     
       5. The tester of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises cardboard. 
     
     
       6. The tester of claim 1, wherein said filament is connected to said handle with adhesive tape. 
     
     
       7. The tester of claim 6, wherein said adhesive tape comprises cellophane tape. 
     
     
       8. The tester of claim 1, wherein said handle has a rectangular shape and said filament is aligned perpendicular to one side of said rectangular shape. 
     
     
       9. The tester of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a pair of laminated sheets, said filament is laminated between said sheets, and further comprising an adhesive applied in a segmented pattern between said sheets. 
     
     
       10. A sensory tester, comprising: first and second semi-rigid planar sheets;   an adhesive laminating and bonding said first and second sheets into a handle; and   a filament having a first end laminated and rigidly secured between said sheets and a second free end projecting outwardly from said handle and adapted for a forceful contact with a testing surface, which forceful contact causes said filament to buckle.   
     
     
       11. The tester of claim 10, wherein said first and second sheets are substantially the same size. 
     
     
       12. The tester of claim 10, wherein said adhesive defines a segmented pattern between said sheets. 
     
     
       13. The tester of claim 10, wherein said first and second semi-rigid sheets are formed of cardboard. 
     
     
       14. The tester of claim 10, wherein said first and second sheets are formed from a folded sheet of cardboard.   
     
     
       15. The tester of claim 10, wherein said adhesive comprises contact cement contacting said filament. 
     
     
       16. The tester of claim 10, wherein said filament is held adhesively between said sheets. 
     
     
       17. The tester of claim 10, further comprising a strip of tape applied to said filament and to at least one of said sheets for holding said filament on said at least one of said sheets. 
     
     
       18. The tester of claim 17, wherein said tape comprises cellophane tape. 
     
     
       19. The tester of claim 10, wherein said planar sheets are overlapping rectangular sheets. 
     
     
       20. The tester of claim 19, wherein said filament is aligned perpendicular to one edge of each of said rectangular sheets.